A little graduation celebration: Preschoolers at UCP of Central Florida get diplomas

UCP Preschool Graduation

RICARDO RAMIREZ BUXEDA, ORLANDO SENTINEL

Saafir Assefa, 5, gets his graduation cap on with help from Zanya Barnes, 5, after their Pre-Kinder graduation from UCP of Central Florida on Friday.

Saafir Assefa, 5, gets his graduation cap on with help from Zanya Barnes, 5, after their Pre-Kinder graduation from UCP of Central Florida on Friday. (RICARDO RAMIREZ BUXEDA, ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Preschool graduation can seem a huge milestone for any pint-sized scholar, and especially for those who have crossed some extra hurdles. For many of the 161 children who received a diploma Friday morning in the auditorium of Jones High School in Orlando, this day was not something their parents took for granted.

As attendees of UCP of Central Florida, many of the kids have developmental disabilities – from autism spectrum disorders to Down syndrome. The nonprofit organization specializes in teaching such children as well as their peers without special needs, hoping to bring out the best in both.

"It's amazing what a little independence can do," said Christine Taylor, whose son, Travis, has cerebral palsy. The boy began attending UCP's Lake Mary campus when he was 3, and two years later here he was, getting his first diploma. "We've definitely both grown for the better."